Author: Alberto Woods

Artificial Pancreas Might Soon Help Patients Better Control Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes can up-end someone’s life. You become accustomed to a specific way of living. You eat what you want. You don’t get enough exercise, but you’re happy. Or maybe you do eat healthy and exercise a lot — and you’re happier for it. Either way, type 1 diabetes can strike without warning. And that means life changes are in order whether you had adopted healthy living before diagnosis or not.

It turns out an artificial pancreas might one day soon help you out.

A new clinical trial showed that an artificial pancreas performed better than current treatments for Type 1 diabetes. Not only did the new organs help patients maintain control over their blood sugar during the day, but the artificial pancreas also made getting through the night a lot easier.

It was only a six-month trial for 168 patients with Type 1 diabetes, aged 14 and above, but the controlled system showed promising results so far.

Boris Kovatchev, the director of the Center for Diabetes Technology at the University of Virginia, said, “This artificial pancreas system has several unique features that improve glucose control beyond what is achievable using traditional methods…In particular, there is a special safety module dedicated to prevention of hypoglycemia, and there is gradually intensified control overnight to achieve near-normal blood sugar levels every morning.”

The study was recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Data related to the study has been forwarded to the FDA for assessment.

Artificial organs are more common nowadays because of advances in bioprinting (3D-printing using synthetic or biological material). In the future, the need for organ donation will experience a marked decline as we can cheaply and quickly replace organs with artificial ones. More importantly, these artificial organs will be tailored to an individual’s personal needs, potentially outperforming the original.

The hope is that eventually artificial organs, combined with a healthy lifestyle, will allow patients to easily manage diseases — or eliminate them altogether.

Daniela Bruttomesso of the University of Padua in Italy wrote: “These results are impressive and clinically relevant, since it has been shown that for each 10% reduction in the time spent in the glucose target range, the risk of development or progression of retinopathy increases by 64% and the risk of development of microalbuminuria by 40%.”

To put it into perspective, the artificial pancreas resulted in increased average healthy glucose levels in study participants by 2.6 hours a day. Retinopathy refers to potential retinal damage in a patient’s eyes. Microalbuminuria refers to the presence of albumin in the urine. An artificial pancreas might help reduce the chances of these complications.

Activist Arrested While Protesting Insulin Price Gouging Practices

A vigil at Eli Lilly’s United States headquarters turned sour a few days ago as activists remembered those who had died because they did not have access to the insulin they needed to preserve their own lives. When diabetic patients can’t get the insulin they require, they try to ration it — and that’s what usually turns deadly. Nicole Smith-Holt was arrested when she let the police know she would be conducting acts of civil disobedience at the vigil.

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate have finally agreed that something needs to be done about the worsening crisis, but they still won’t agree to provide medication for free to those who desperately need it. And simply saying something needs to be done doesn’t do anything for those who are dying today.

Smith-Holt said, “The time frame seems too long. Lives can be lost during that waiting period. As you could tell from my testimony, my son died in the matter of 24 hours without insulin.”

A new House bill to address these concerns was named after Smith-Holt’s son: it’s called the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Plan. According to the details, diabetics without the resources to get their own insulin fast would be given a 90-day supply to hold them over until they get back on their feet and can afford their own.

“Our plan tries to catch patients before they’re in crisis,” said Eric Pratt, a Republican senator from Prior Lake while criticizing plans that don’t go far enough.

Unsurprisingly, the pharmaceutical industry has voiced its discontent regarding the new plan in a new statement: “We have serious concerns the Minnesota Senate is now contemplating an overly broad Minnesota insulin assistance program that would force insulin manufacturers to give away insulin products for free.”

Of course the “concerns” are absurd. The insulin would first be paid for by the Minnesota government, not manufacturers. The pharmaceutical industry — and other opponents to the Alec Smith plan — have forgotten that the entire point of government is to protect the people from harm.

They also dismiss other consequences that crop up when patients don’t have access to insulin. Those who survive the crisis are usually looking at a lifetime of ever-worsening health problems, which ends up burdening the healthcare system even more. Yes, someone has to pay for the treatment plans — but doing so before the problem turns into a death sentence or a lifetime of illness is always the cheaper option.

Thankfully, new research is helping diabetics more easily manage the disease. A new glucose monitor called Dexcom is one of the newest on the market.

Diabetic Man Deported By Trump Administration Dies In Iraq

Jimmy Aldaoud, a 41-year-old former resident of Detroit, apparently died from diabetes after he was deported from the United States by the Trump Administration. Even though he’d been born in Greece, he was sent to Iraq, a country he’d never stepped foot in before. He didn’t know the language and could not acquire access to the insulin medication he needed to survive.

Aldaoud’s lawyer, Edward Bajoka, did not mince words when addressing the question of whether or not Trump and his policies are to blame for his client’s death:

“Jimmy was found dead today in Iraq. The likely cause of death was not being able to get his insulin. He is a diabetic. He was forcefully deported to Iraq a couple of months ago. He was born in Greece and had never been to Iraq. He knew no one there. He did not speak Arabic. He was a member of the Chaldean minority group. He was a paranoid schizophrenic. His mental health was the primary reason for his legal issue that led to his deportation.”

He continued, “Rest in peace Jimmy. Your blood is on the hands of ICE and this administration.”

Jimmy Aldaoud’s situation showcased two significant problems in our society: One, diabetes can be a dangerous and deadly condition without proper care or medication — even though it should be entirely within our power to treat with today’s medical knowledge — and two, the Trump Administration doesn’t care how long you’ve been living in the United States if you can’t contribute and have brown skin.

Aldaoud had lived here since he was about six months old.

ACLU lawyer Miriam Aukerman said, “We knew he would not survive if deported.” But ICE officials didn’t care. Aukerman also explained that she believes these same policies are to blame for additional deaths that have gone unreported so far.

Others have been quick to call out Trump’s abhorrent policies for what they are.

Annahar writer Hisham Melhem tweeted, “As if 41 years of mental illness, marginalization and diabetes are not cruel enough for Jimmy Aldaoud, America, in our name, exiled him to a home that was never a home, to die alone, destitute and broken.”

Senator Kamala Harris (D-California) said, “The cruelty of this administration knows no bounds.”

Beto O’Rourke, Harris’s fellow Democratic candidate in the 2020 race, tweeted, “Each day, we are made lower by this administration’s cruelty.”

If you cannot find access to the diabetes medications you need to survive, please contact us today.

The Curse Of Low Blood Sugar: What You Can Do About It

Diabetic patients are especially prone to periods of dangerously low blood sugar in part because of the medications they are often prescribed. This condition, called hypoglycemia, is sometimes the result of overusing medication, but excessive exercise, meal skipping, or simply eating less can all lead to a low blood sugar event as well. What makes the condition especially scary is that you can have it and not even know it.

People suffering from low blood sugar can fall unconscious or lapse into a coma — all without realizing anything was wrong. If no one is around to help, the condition can lead to death. That is a terrifying possibility for someone diagnosed with a lifelong condition, so what can you do about it?

Low blood sugar occurs when it dips under 70 mg/dL. That means you aren’t getting the glucose you need, and your body can’t retain the functionality a normal person’s would.

That’s why the first step is checking your blood sugar as often as possible to ensure that it remains where it should. When it falls on more than one occasion the first step is to discover why it’s happening — and then prevent a recurrence.

Although low blood sugar can present without symptoms (hypoglycemic unawareness), you might experience:

Nervousness
Pale skin
Rapid heartbeat
Mood swings
Fatigue
Headache
Blurry vision
Hunger
Sweating
Dizziness
Shaking
Insomnia
Tingly skin
Seizure
Confusion

When you discover that your blood sugar is lower than it should be, you need carbohydrates that your body can digest more easily. Soda, juice, honey, candy, crackers, or even a small spoonful of sugar can help you balance your blood sugar.

Work with a diabetic educator or healthcare provider to determine a diet and exercise regimen right for you. Don’t skip meals or start exercising more frequently than you did before. When physically active, consider a snack before or during the increased activity if you know you’re prone to low blood sugar during or after exercise.

Regularity is a diabetic’s most important weapon when fighting the condition. Diabetics must keep close track of the carbohydrates they consume in order to maintain proper blood sugar. They must also be very careful when drinking alcohol, which is best taken with food.

Depending on how serious your symptoms are, some diabetic patients might benefit from keeping a glucagon emergency kit on their person at all times. The medication will help your body increase its own blood sugar by releasing what is already stored in the liver.

The Troublesome Demographics Of Diabetes

How much do you know about diabetes and how it affects our society at large? 23.1 million people had been diagnosed with diabetes in the United States by 2015. An estimated 7.2 million people are likely to remain undiagnosed, and that number appears to be growing steadily year by year. That’s nearly ten percent of our population. 1.25 million of these people suffer from type 1 diabetes.

That means a lot of people require constant care and supervision, diabetic education, and hope.

What might be even more concerning is that an awe-inspiring 84.1 million citizens over the age of eighteen were prediabetics (or about a third of our population). Prediabetes is a common indicator that type 2 diabetes is forthcoming. It means a person’s blood sugar is in a sort of purgatory. It’s not as low as it should be, but not high enough that a diabetes diagnosis is imminent. Other health conditions such as heart disease and stroke are more likely to develop if you have prediabetes first.

Diabetes means management. Prediabetes is more about prevention.

There are a few more things about diabetes demographics you should know if you’re at risk (and especially if you don’t know whether or not you’re at risk):

It’s the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
The chances of developing diabetes or being diagnosed with diabetes increases with age. Less than a quarter of one percent of United States citizens under twenty have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Diabetes is more likely if you are Native American, African American, Hispanic, or Asian American. Mexican Americans are most at risk among the Hispanic population.
Medical costs for a diabetic patient are at least 2.3 times higher than what patients would spend if they didn’t suffer from the disease.
Men and women suffer from diabetes at an almost equal rate.
Diabetes is more prevalent in the deep south and Puerto Rico.

Diabetes costs the United States an estimated $327 billion annually, a cost which is only growing. $237 billion accounts for medical costs, while $90 billion results from diminished productivity.

Risk factors include:

Smoking. Nearly half of those who suffer from diabetes have a history of smoking.
Obesity. Nearly 88 percent of those who suffer from diabetes are overweight or obese.
Exercise. Nearly 41 percent of those who suffer from diabetes lead sedentary lifestyles before diagnosis.
Genetics. Nearly 74 percent of those who suffer from diabetes had high blood pressure, and nearly 67 percent of those 21 or older had high cholesterol. Family history of either condition increases the risk for diabetes as well, as does a family history of diabetes.

If you have any of these risk factors or think you may have prediabetes or diabetes, you should make an appointment with your doctor immediately. This disease requires care!

Mentally Tiring Work Increases Diabetes Risk

There are several factors that can contribute to a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes including obesity, diet, exercise (or lack thereof), smoking and family history. And now, we can add mental tiring work to the list. According to a study that was recently published in the European Journal of Endocrinology, women who find their jobs mentally tiring are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. (more…)

What Is Gestational Diabetes And How Is It Treated?

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes get most of the attention, but pregnant women can develop something called “gestational” diabetes due to high blood sugar. This is a serious complication if not controlled, and can lead to a dangerous or difficult birth and subsequent health problems for your newborn. Like any form of diabetes, the patient must do his or her part to control the diabetes in order to have the best prognosis possible. (more…)

Amputation & Diabetes

Most of us can hardly imagine what it’s like to live with an amputated foot, hand, leg, or arm. It’s an unthinkable obstacle in a world that seems to require full mobility, and few of us are aware of how far prosthetics have come to ensure that amputees live life as normally as possible. But it’s a risk that many diabetics know they must endure. How often must diabetics undergo amputation, and why is it done? (more…)

Will Scientists Ever Cure Diabetes in Our Lifetime?

Diabetes can be a nightmare for those who have it. After diagnosis, a person is forced to adapt to a lifetime of changed routines from diet to exercise to expectations. Diabetes means that blood sugar is out of control, and to get diabetes in control-you first need to determine how best to control blood sugar or glucose.

(more…)

Should Diabetics Donate Blood

Diabetes is a very serious condition that is affecting growing numbers of people in the United States.

While there is no cure for it, it can be managed in such a way that most diabetics with some vigilance can live as full and healthy life as any other person, and do many of the same things that other people can do – including diet and exercise.

The key word in that paragraph is “vigilance.”

Vigilance in monitoring and controlling diabetes is the real key to living a normal life in Tampa, Timbuktu or Toledo. And that vigilance – almost an obsessive-compulsive level – is important for doing even selfless things for other people – such as giving blood.

As diabetes is a blood-sugar issue, it can be seen that diabetic blood may not be the best-suited for blood donations to help keep people alive and whole. But there is nothing precluding those with diabetes from donating blood per se, as diabetes isn’t about the blood itself and making it unhealthy, but it’s about the blood sugar level in the blood.

Those who wish to donate blood go through a full health screening, whether he or she is a diabetic or not. The fact that you have diabetes will be noted, and the diabetic must affirm that the blood sugar is controlled and that the person is truly vigilant in monitoring the sugar levels, are taking medication as prescribed and/or is executing a consistent diet and exercise program.

Provided all that is verified and the work continues, most blood clinics will allow a diabetes patient to donate blood without much restriction. However, it is always a good idea to consult with your doctor prior to donating any blood, just to make sure all the bases are covered. Normally, you should be able to donate blood every two months or so, but you should never do it if you are not feeling well.

Some key things to consider:

Avoid any strenuous activities for at least 24 hours after a donation.
Increase your fluids for several days after donating. If you usually drink eight cups of water a day, consider pushing that to 10 cups a day for about a week after donating, for example.
Do not go to donate while hungry or thirsty, but don’t’ fill your tummy right before donating; donate about 1-2 hours after eating.
Make sure your blood sugar level is normal when you donate. The donation process takes an hour or so, and you don’t’ need your blood sugar level dropping during the 10 minutes of donation.

There are very few things as noble as giving blood, and those with diabetes should have every opportunity to be as noble as anyone else. Vigilance is key to charity.